Chronic COVID Treatment Center™

Research, Prediction, Diagnosis and Treatment for Chronic COVID-19

The Long Hauler Cytokine Panel assay is a Laboratory Developed Test which utilises a highly sensitive and accurate flow cytometric method to assess the concentration of inflammatory cytokines. We are proud to be working with Dr Bruce Patterson the inventor of the technology and his team at IncellDx to offer the IncellKINE test in the UK at PeploBio Ltd.

The 14 Cytokine panel results provide medical insights in understanding the pathophysiology of immunological, infectious diseases, and inflammatory conditions.

Dysregulation in the levels of the 14 cytokines measured by IncellKINE have been identified during a cytokine storm which occurs during COVID-19 infection, and in patients who have recovered from the acute phase of infection but are still experiencing symptoms characteristic of chronic COVID.

  • IL-6: This pro-inflammatory cytokine has been found to be elevated in severe COVID-19 patients and in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., IJID 2020; Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021].

    IFN-gamma: This pro-inflammatory cytokine has been found to be elevated in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., IJID 2020 Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021]

    IL-2: This is responsible for proliferation and activation of T cells, B cells and NK cells.

    IL-4: The interleukin 4 is a cytokine that induces differentiation of naive helper T cells to Th2 cells. Upon activation by IL-4, Th2 cells subsequently produce additional IL-4 in a positive feedback loop. IL-4 is produced primarily by mast cells, Th2 cells, eosinophils, and basophils.

    CXCL8 (IL-8): Interleukin 8 is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells, airway smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. Endothelial cells store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. In humans, the interleukin-8 protein is encoded bythe CXCL8 gene.

    IL-10: This has been found to be elevated in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021]. It has been observed that long-hauler patients demonstrate an elevation in IL-2 and IFN-gamma and a reduction in CCL4.

    IL-13: This is a cytokine produced by Th2 cells, NK cells, mast cells, basophils and is a mediator of allergic inflammation and a key regulator of IgEsynthesis, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness. [Rael et al., Gulati, et al.,]

    GM-CSF: This is is produced by T cells, macrophages and fibroblasts and stimulates production of granulocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils [Turner, etal.,]. GM-CSF has been found to be reduced in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021].

    CCL3: This is involved in macrophage and NK-cell migration as well as T-cell dendritic cell interactions [Sokol, et al.,]. It also has been found to be elevated in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021].

    CCL4: This has been found to be reduced in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021] CCL4 is involved in macrophage andNK-cell migration as well as T-cell/dendritic cell interactions [Sokol, et al.,]. CCL4 signals through the receptor CCR5 to attract T cells to the site of inflammation and depending on the immune context, can recruit differentially activated T cells [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol.; Liu, et al; Mukaida,et al.,]

    CCL5: This is involved in macrophage and NK-cell migration as well as T-cell/dendritic cell interactions [Sokol, et al.,] CCL5 levels have been found to be highly elevated in severe COVID-19 patients, but not in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021; Patterson, et al., IJID2020)

    VEGF: This has been found to be elevated in chronic COVID patients. [Patterson, et al., Front. Immunol. 2021]. The presence of VEGF in inflammation neuropathies such as ClOP, GBS and vascular neuropathy may indicate a potential relation with vascular involvement. [Nobile-Orazio, et al.,] VEGF has been shown to be elevated in POEMS but no other monoclonal gammopathies and can be elevated in immune- mediated neuropathies.

    TNF-alpha: This is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, associated with phagocyte cell activation and endotoxic shock. [Turner, et al.,) TNF-alpha has been shown to play a role in the process of pathological pain. [Zhang, et al.,]

    sCD40L: Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is contained in platelet granules and thus its presence in the blood is a marker of platelet activation. By interacting with CD40, which is found on endothelial and smooth muscle cells, sCD40L may trigger the release of inflammatory mediators, lead to increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases, and activate the coagulation

How do I buy a test kit and book my follow consultation?


Our partner lab, PeploBio in the UK will be offering this test


We are here to answer your questions, discuss potential collaborations, and explore how our solutions can benefit you.

Our Process

  1. Purchase Your Test Kit from (https://www.covidlonghaulers.com/uk/incellkine-uk)

  2. Fulfiling your order and Posting your Collection Kit (within 48 hours of purchase) 

  3. Arrange a Phlebotomy Appointment (Recommendations are provided in confirmation e-mail)

  4. Return your sample to our Laboratory (Courier - Royal Mail Tracked24)

  5. Sample Processing (Turnaround - 7-10 working days)

  6. Receive Report to Share with your Clinician


What happens after my Results?


Once you test results are released you may want to set up the video consultation. The video consultation is offered to provide you and your medical doctor an interpretation of the test results. Within 72 hours of the consultation, you will receive a written report of the discussion. Your doctor does not need to be on the call with you but nice if he/she is available. It is important that you have a medical doctor that supports your efforts. The consultation team is not able to write prescriptions. If the consultation feels you need to be on some type of protocol your medical doctor will write the prescriptions.


Learn more about IncellKINE


Follow this link HERE to learn more about IncellKINE from Dr. Bruce Patterson, CEO of IncellDx